Miracles

How do you define a miracle? Some of us see it as a huge event in our lives, others of us take in every moment as a miracle. I'm not going to tell you what is or what is not a miracle, but I want to share my miracle from my trip to Honduras.

When Sandy asked us if we were willing to go to a local home and pray, I thought "Well, how hard can this be?" So, we loaded the bus and were on our way.
Veronica, the mother of the family has recently had surgery to remove both of her legs due to serious health complications. On February 11, a Hondruas doctor told her she had 5-6 hours to live. We went to the house on the 12th of February. I was not prepared for what I saw. We walked in to her tiny bedroom full of people and prayed for her, I couldn't handle it. I had to walk out of the room, found my mom and cried on her shoulder like a child. She looked and smelled of death...her soft pink lips coated in dried blood as I watched her struggle for every breath she tried to take. Her husband Sammy looked of sadness and defeat, her two boys Kevin and Daniel were no where to be found. I found myself questioning God's plan in all of this...how can this be good for anyone?

So, we finished praying with her and I walked out of the house NEVER wanting to go back. I was in complete shock and just wanted to be as far away from there as I could. I was standing outside when a translator came to me and said "You're a psychologist, they want you to talk to the boys." Really God?? 10 and 12, their mother will be dead by morning, and you want ME to talk to THEM? Reluctantly, I went back in the house, sat on the couch with the boys and a translator and asked them if they had any questions, told them that their hope in this trial can only be found in Christ and prayed with them. For the second time, I walked out of the house and never wanted to return. Little did I know, I would return every night that week just to show my face to the boys, ask them if they had questions, encourage them to spend as much time with their mother as they were comfortable with doing, and assisting the doctors in some medical care.

So, what's the miracle in all this? Veronica died this afternoon at 3:00, far surpassing her 5-6 hour life expectancy that February day. She accepted Christ in to her heart a few days before we were introduced to her...that is the miracle! Her family saw the love of Christ through our team praying with them, assisting them with medical care, sitting down with the boys and caring about them as well, encouraging Sammy, admiring him for sticking by her side through all of this (very uncommen, especially in this culture). Veronica~thank you for allowing us in to your home, showing us your fighting will, letting us love your boys and support your husband. I thank God for you and your testimony to me...it was not about what I gave to you, but what you have given me. I will remember you and your family for the rest of my life. Rest in peace sweet angel, enjoy the lavishing of the love of your Father over you. Please pray with me for Sammy, Kevin, Daniel and the rest of the family as they mourn the loss of their sweet mother and wife.